Just over 25% of Idaho adults had at least a bachelor’s degree, one of the lower rates compared to other states. In Eagle, nearly 50% of adults had at least a bachelor’s degree. Eagle’s relatively high educational attainment rate partly accounts for the high incomes in the area. Like the richest town in many other states, Eagle is within commuting distance of a major urban center. Boise, the capital of Idaho, is under 30 minutes from Eagle.

Winnetka is not only the richest town in Illinois, but also the second richest incorporated town in the country. The town’s median income of $211,250 is roughly four times the income of a typical U.S. household. It is also more than 12 times the median household income in Cairo, Illinois’ poorest town. One possible explanation for the Chicago suburb’s high income is its highly-educated population. Nationally, 28.8% of people 25 and over had at least a bachelor’s degree. In Winnetka, 88% of adults had such an education.

Zionsville, a suburb of Indianapolis, is the wealthiest town in the state with a median household income of $106,071 — well more than double the state median income of $48,248. The poverty rate in Zionsville was only 2.6%, a fraction of the state’s poverty rate of 15.4%. In addition, just 2% of households earned less than $10,000 annually, one of the lowest percentages nationwide. Just over two-thirds of Zionsville adults had at least a bachelor’s degree, which was more than double the national rate and the highest percentage of any incorporated town or city in the state.

The residents of Johnston are wealthier than those of any other incorporated area in Iowa. All but 3.2% of the city’s adult residents had at least a high school diploma, and just over 55% of adults had at least a bachelor’s degree. Residents with high education levels often work in professional occupations, which tend to pay more. In Johnston, nearly 15% of workers were employed in professional, scientific, or administrative positions, more than in any other incorporated area in Iowa.

Prairie Village, on the outskirts of Kansas City, had a median household income of $80,862, much higher than the state median income of $51,332. Still, this nearly $30,000 income gap was actually smaller than in the majority of states. The city had a high percentage of workers in traditionally high-paying jobs. Just under 18% of workers were employed in professional, scientific, and management positions, more than double the statewide industry composition of 8.6%.